The Danger of Repeated Omissions

Friday, April 08, 2022 at 09:04 AM ET

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A Piper Turbo Lance, like the one pictured here, experienced trouble on the way to Pensacola, Florida in 2020. [File photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A Piper Turbo Lance with two Navy pilots onboard crashed fatally after a catastrophic engine failure led to an in-flight fire.
The NTSB determined the engine failed due to severe oil starvation caused by a 60% obstructed oil suction screen.
The probable cause was attributed to the mechanic's failure to clean the oil suction screen during maintenance, a task that had been neglected for 11 years despite repeated reports of low oil pressure.
The incident highlights the critical importance of meticulous maintenance and adherence to procedures, as such oversights can have fatal consequences even when pilots respond professionally to an emergency.

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On a clear June afternoon in 2020, two senior Navy pilots left Jasper, Alabama (KJFX), headed for Pensacola, Florida, 200 nm distant, where they were based. They were flying a Piper Turbo Lance of which the left seat pilot was a co-owner. After a 30-minute cruise climb, the Lance leveled out at 15,000 feet.

About nine minutes later, the pilot asked Atlanta Center for a descent to 10,000, which was granted. After another minute, he reported an “engine fluctuation” and requested a further descent and deviation to Selma (KSEM), which was close by. Center cleared him to 5,000. Shortly afterward, the pilot, his voice tense but calm, declared an emergency.